Huh? It's supposed to be a comedy?On the other hand, in his review in The New York Times, Stephen Holden says, "The storytelling is rushed and sloppy." Of the film's star, Scarlette Johansson, Holden comments, rather astutely, "Ms. Johansson’s Annie, who narrates the movie in a glum, plodding voice, is a leaden screen presence, devoid of charm and humor. With her heavy-lidded eyes and plump lips, Ms. Johansson may smolder invitingly in certain roles, but 'The Nanny Diaries' is the latest in a string of films that suggest that this somnolent actress confuses sullen attitudinizing with acting."Meanwhile, over at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Steven Rea wastes no time getting to the heart of the matter. "It's really a painful reminder of everything the film adaptation of 'The Devil Wears Prada' is, and 'The Nanny Diaries' is not."

Rea's headline writer is even more succinct:

"For 'Nanny Diaries,' the word is 'dull'"

How's that for a money quote?

(Artwork: Scarlett Johansson and Nicholas Reese Art in "The Nanny Diaries," and critics Stephen Holden of The New York Times and Steven Rea of The Philadelphia Inquirer.)

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Anyone interested in perusing some 2060 of my film reviews, dating back to 1994, can do so by simply going to RottenTomatoes.Com

a fan's notes by joe baltake devoted to movies unknown and mostly misunderstood

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about this site, a collection of movie-fed daydreams...

Life is simply one grand excuse to watch movies and then sit around and think about them. While my education was honed by reviewing films for Gannett, Tribune, McClatchy, The News Corporation and Knight-Ridder, my personality - or rather my taste - was shaped largely in my old neighborhood movie theater and on my parents' living room floor. Watching movies. And falling in love with the unacclaimed. Passionately.(the passionate moviegoer ® is a registered trademark)

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"There is no better evidence of Joe's passion than his subject matter, defending and remembering the more obscure titles from cinematic history. No matter how much you think you might know about movies, odds are you will learn of new ones if you check out Joe's site."

"Joe ... devotes himself to those myriad neglected figures and movies seemingly left by the roadside in our societal rush toward cultural amnesia. Whether he is trying to find the source of Jack Lemmon's quicksilver appeal or understand Vincente Minnelli's valedictory films or express just why we miss Jack Carson, Joe is consistently thoughtful and knowledgeable without being ponderous."